Child mortality in Matlab, Bangladesh with special reference to excess mortality of girls
Abstract
The study examines the effects of family composition, the timing of subsequent conception of mother, season and various socioeconomic factors on male and female child mortality in Matlab, Bangladesh. The analysis of family composition effects demonstrates that parents do not treat sons and daughters as perfect substitutes. The presence of older sister(s) is associated with increased mortality of girls and lower mortality of boys. In contrast, the presence of older brothers is related to reduced mortality of girls but increased mortality of boys. Gestation of the younger sibling is a grave risk factor that increases mortality more for girls than for boys at ages 1-5. Another risk factor is the presence of a surviving younger sibling that elevates child mortality more in crowded households than in households which are not crowded. Mortality of children is lower in February and March than in other months. The average daily wage rate has a significant positive effect, but the price of rice has no significant effect on monthly mortality of children. These effects on child mortality act independently of one another.
Subject Area
Demographics
Recommended Citation
Muhuri, Pradip Kumar, "Child mortality in Matlab, Bangladesh with special reference to excess mortality of girls" (1991). Dissertations available from ProQuest. AAI9200376.
https://repository.upenn.edu/dissertations/AAI9200376